The UK needs the type of change that a hung parliament cannot deliver

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that the local election results did not point to a hung parliament (PA Wire)

While I agree with Susan Alexander that our parliamentary system needs reform, I cannot agree that a hung parliament will lead to the proportional representation she desires.

The prime objective at this stage is to ensure that the discredited Conservative government that has damaged our nation for 14 long years is removed from office for at least two terms so that the radical changes that are needed can be enacted.

There is more chance of Labour reforming our systems of government than the Conservatives. A “protest vote” for a smaller party will not lead to them being elected – it will merely take votes in our current system away from the only party that can, and I believe will, begin to effect change once in power.

People with Ms Alexander’s mindset are in danger of being seduced by the rhetoric of a woeful government who are peddling the notion of a hung parliament in order to erode a Labour majority in any way that it can.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

AI deepfakes will make our elections even more dishonest

With recent improvements in AI, there is a fear of deepfakes of politicians being used to interfere with elections. Politicians could be digitally “copied” and then fake messages using their likeness will be used to create mischief.

But wait – isn’t that already happening? We have fake messages – just lies – being spread by many candidates before elections and then forgotten after the elections. Already each team accuses the others of lying and cheating, and they have done so for hundreds of years.

To discount the worry about deepfake images, we can just assume all politicians are lying – and we will be right far more often than wrong.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Address supplied

Praying for the future

The Independent reports that a new megapoll suggests the Tories are heading for electoral disaster and could win just 66 seats in parliament.

They should have taken heed of the prayer that’s read at the start of House of Commons’ sittings. It calls on divine guidance for those in positions of authority to “never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind”.

Thankfully, it looks like a prayer for the nation by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York has been answered. It contains the words: “In ages past you have delivered our nation from disaster. Do it again we pray”.

Roger Hinds

Surrey

Our politicians must not be afraid to address the Brexit crisis

I read David Maddox’s recent article, regarding polling that suggests a rethink of Brexit should be “front and centre” of the election campaign, with interest. But I would adjure everyone not to hold their breath, as the politicians still think this is a no-go area.

Why? That is beyond me because the public on the evidence of this survey have shown an appetite for this issue to be fully debated and proactive solutions discussed. Of course, Lord Heseltine’s recent column about this issue was also correct – one of the most existential issues of our lifetime has been given pariah status by the leading parties, and this is dishonest.

It is true they have deprived our young people of access to live and work in Europe, and even when proactive overtures come from the EU, these are immediately rejected. Instead, they are offered “mandatory” national service – not quite in the same ballpark, I would surmise!

This could be the best opportunity to debate and bring our relationship with the EU to the fore, and engage a disinterested cohort of the public. It would be a move in the right direction and would put some much needed oxygen into these pre-election weeks. We can’t just ignore Brexit forever.

Judith A Daniels

Address supplied